as in aft
near, toward, or in the stern of a ship or the tail of an aircraft
if you turn around and look astern, you'll see dolphins following the boat
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for astern
Adverb
-
Also of note is the Dusk Bar, which sits aft on Deck 10 and is stocked with interesting spirits.—
David Swanson,
Travel + Leisure,
27 May 2024 -
Open exterior decks forward and aft allow for a steady sea breeze, as the owner—who was last aboard his yacht in the summer of 2021—used to regularly enjoy.—
Julia Zaltzman,
Robb Report,
10 Feb. 2023
Adjective
-
And indeed, one of its most unique elements is a cast-iron spiral staircase that once led from Lennon and Ono’s apartment to a roof terrace but now, fully restored, connects the the parlor-floor living room to the rear garden.—
Demetrius Simms,
Robb Report,
13 Feb. 2026
-
These include rear-view mirrors mounted to the handlebars, front and rear turn signals, a compact digital dash, a sidestand, and a license-plate holder.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
13 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
That said, too many Republicans in Austin are focused on hyper-partisan and social issues that take our state backwards and come at the expense of the serious issues the Legislature should focus on.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Buzelis was still suspended midair when Collin Sexton backpedaled underneath the forward, knocking his legs backward to send the younger player crashing to the floor, stomach-first.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
Kiswani noted that outlets such as the New York Post have written about New Yorkers' complaints about the uptick in dog poop being left behind.—
MARIANA ALFARO THE WASHINGTON POST,
Arkansas Online,
19 Feb. 2026
-
The Times reported in December how Edison fell behind in maintenance of its transmission system before the fire.—
Melody Petersen,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Cite this Entry
“Astern.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/astern. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
